Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. HAMMOND.

4 Breech-Loading Fire-Arm. No. 44,798.

Witne I V, Inventor.

-FEYERS. F flTfl-UTHDGRAPHE WASHINGTON. D. c

Patented Oct. 25, 1864.

PATENT @rricn.

HENRY HAMMOND, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT I'N BREECH=LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification formingpart of Letters'Patent No. fi ilffllfi, datedOctober 25, 1864.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY HAMMOND, of the city of Providence, in thecounty of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Breech-Load ing Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical Isection of part of a breech-loading fire-arm illustrating myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transversesection of the same,taken through the breech, and showing the breechopen. Fig. 4 is a section taken in the same plane as Fig. 3, but showingthe breech closed. Fig. 5 is a back view of the breech-piece. Fig. 6 isa front View of the stationary cam in front of the breech-piece.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention relates to the employment of a movable breech-piece whichopens and closes the rear end of the barrel by a movementabout an axisbelow and parallel with the bore of the barrel, such breech-piece havingalso a limited movement in a backward direction to free it from thebarrel and relieve it of friction in opening, and a correspondingforward movement in closing.

The improvement consists in a certain construction of such breech-pieceand mode of applying a stationary cam or cam-like recoilpiece in rear ofit, for forcing it-forward toward the barrel and sustaining the recoil.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents astrong socket, of steel or other metal, into which thebarrel B is screwed. O is a stout pin-forged or otherwise made in thesame piece with or rigidly attached to the said socket A, said pin beingarranged below the said socket, and projecting therefrom in arearwarddirection parallel with the bore of the barrel.

D is the stock-frame screwed onto or otherwise rigidly connected withthe rear end of the pin 0.

E is the breech-piece fitted to turn on the said pin 0, to expose therear end of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 3, for loading.

F is the stationary cam or cam-like recoilpiece in rear of the breech,secured upon the pin 0 by the attachment of the frame D. The face of thebreech-piece E is made flat and perpendicular to the axis of the pin 0,to fit up against the back of the socket A or rear end of the barrel,and the back is made of spiral form, as shown at d in Fig. 2, like theface of a square screw-thread. The face of the cam or recoil piece F ismade of a spiral form, to correspond with the back of the breech-piece.The said cam or recoil piece F is prevented from turning on the pin, andalso from moving forward thereon, by a tongue, a, provided on itsexterior to enter a groove in the pin 0, and it is prevented from movingback thereon by the frame D. The breechpiece, when turned to a positionopposite the barrel, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, fits snugly betweenthe back of the socket A or rear end of the barrel and the face of thecam or recoil piece F. In the under side of the pin 0 there is a shortspirally-arranged groove, b, which is screwed or otherwise securelyinserted through the lower part of the hub of the breechpiece E, thepitch of the said groove corresponding with that of the spiral surfacesof the breech-piece and stationary cam or recoil piece. This grooveandpin produce the drawing back of the breechpiece as it is turned aside toopen the rear end of the barrel, and the ends of the said groove serveas stops to the pin to limit the movement of the breech piece around thepin. The breech-piece should be furnished with a small spring bolt orcatch for securing it when closed. This bolt or catch may be so arrangedas to be operated by the pressure of the thumb to liberate thebreech-piece after firing.

The operation of the breech-piece is as follows: As it is turned asidetoward the position shown in Fig. 3' for loading, it is drawn back bythe pin 0, working against the oblique surface of the front side of thegroove 1), thus opening without friction or wear of the face of thebreech and affording facility for withdraw-- ing discharged metalliccartridge-shells from the barrel by an extractor attached directly tothe breech-piece. As the breech-piece is turned back to close the barrelafter the insertion of the cartridge into the latteryit is moved forwardtoward the barrel by the action of its oblique or spiral rear faceagainst the corresponding surface of the cam or recoil piece F,

and when thus moved forward it is supported against the recoil by thecam or recoil piece.

The stoppage of the breech-piece in its opening movement may be effectedby means of shoulders e e on the hub of the breech-piece, and within thecam or recoil piece F, instead of by'the pin 0 and end of the groove b.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method, substantially as described, of constructing thebreech-block E with an oblique or helical rear surface, and connectingthe same with the stock or frame, so that in opening and closing thebreech-block by rotation it will be withdrawn laterally and ob liquelybackward, as herein specified.

s 2. The oblique or spiral-faced stationary cam or recoil piece F, incombination with the oblique groove I) in the pin O,and the pin cin thehub of the breech-piece, when constructed and arranged as hereinspecified.

HENRY HAMMOND.

\Vitnesses:

J OHN TURNER, Jimins O. COLLINS.

